Liquid soap dispenser



J. L. MINI Dec. 1, 1964 LIQUID SOAP DISPENSER Filed Sept. 28, 1962INVENTOR. JOSEPH L. Ml m ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,159,317 LIQUIDSOAP DESPENSER Joseph L. Mini, 2107 Wynnewood Lane, Peru, ill. FiledSept. 28, 1%2, der. No. 225,791 7 Claims. (Ci. 222.-34-l) This inventionrelates. to liquid dispensers, of the metered type, and in particular toa household implement for handling liquid soaps or detergents, althoughnot limited to such use. These modern, liquid, household aids are soldin relatively small containers, and customarily these are kept tuckedaway, when not in use, among a myriad of other household aids, and mustbe hunted out for each use, and it is one object of the invention toprovide a container or repository for the fluid which is adapted formaintenance in a position of ready availability.

The modern, liquid soaps and the like are provided in highlyconcentrated form, with the result that relatively small dosages areemployed in household operations. As a consequence, the usualhit-or-rniss measuring tactics of the housewife result inproportionately greater error, resulting either in inefficiency byreason of low-strength concentration, or wastage by over-concentration.It is, therefore, a further object of the invention to achieve precisionof metering, and in particular, to achieve such result by automaticmeans.

Yet another object is to provide a metering device which, while capableof rigid stationing in a position or" customary use, is neverthelesscapable of ready removal, for portage.

A still further object is to provide a metering container comprisingeasily detachable sections afifording easy access to the interior forcleaning, inspection, and other forms of maintenance.

The objects also include the provision of a device which is simple ofstructure, rugged and durable, easy of manufacture, and low in cost.

These and other ends, which will be apparent, are attained by thepresent invention, a preferred form of which is described in thefollowing specification, as illustrated in the drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the device, assembled,

FIGURE 2 is an axial, sectional View, taken on the plane of the line 2-2of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a fragmental, sectional View of a detail in the region ofthe piston, enlarged, taken on the plane of the line 3--3 of FIGURE 2,and

FIGURE 4 is a transverse, sectional view, taken on the plane of the line4-4 of FIGURE 2.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, there is shown acomposite container, having a main, body portion llll of generallyfrusto-conical form, open at the top, and having a rounded, lower corner12, fabricated from suitable plastic, and carrying, as integral elementsor" its structure, a shank 14, depending centrally from its base 16, aninternal tube or cylinder is, rising from the base 16, and coaxial withshank 14, and a discharge faucet 29, passing through the wall of body16, and communicating with the interior of tube 18, near the floor orbase 1 .6 of the container. A vacuum cup 22, of suitable, rubberymaterial, received on shank 14, constitutes a means of fixing thecontainer in place, as on a sinkboard or work table, and will preferablybe of a diameter substantially equal to that of container 16, so as toendow it with the necessary degrees of equilibrium and rigidity.

Dispensing of fluid from container 19 through tube 18 and faucet 20, isaccomplished by means of a collapsible piston unit, comprising adriving, piston disc 2 and a metering piston 26, movable to and fromdisc 24 in a cycle of operation. As seen in FIGURE 3, disc 24, which maybe of any suitable material such as aluminum or stainless steel, is anintegral part of a piston rod, or push rod 28, and below disc 24 is areduced, depending, continuation 30 of rod 28, on which thecentrally-bored disc 26 is slidably mounted, being retained on theunderside by a split, spring ring 32, carried in an annular groove inshank 3b, and being biased into position against the keeper ring by acompression coil spring 34, surrounding shank 3t? and acting against thetwo discs. A fluid-tight fit between the discs and the inner wall oftube 18 is provided by O-rings 35, carried in peripheral, annulargrooves in the discs.

The piston rod 28 is slidable through a central opening 36 in afriction-fitted, plastic, closure cap 37 in the top opening of sleeve18, and also has upper, slide-bearing support in a central sleeve 38,carried by spiders 40, extending radially inwardly from the wall ofcontainer section iii, near the top thereof. An extension 42 is attachedto piston rod 23, as by a threaded, reduced neck 4t, and carries a topbutton 46, secured in any convenient manner, as by friction fit,threads, or pinning. A closure cap :8, secured to container portion M bythreads 40, is centrally bored to slidably receive rod extension 42, andit will be seen that the container may be recharged upon unscrewing theclosure cap.

In FIGURE 2, the driver disc 24 is shown in its uppermost position, andthis is determined by a stop means in the form of a split, keeper ring52, lodged in an annular groove in rod 28, which is interrupted in itsupward movement by contact with slide-bearing sleeve 38. The pistonsystem as a whole is biased to this upper position by means of a coilcompression spring 54, abutting cap 3'7 on its lower end, and acting atits upper end on a washer 56, retained by a pin 58, carried in atransverse bore in piston rod 23. The functional eflect of the washerand pin is the same as that of a fixed collar on rod 28. In the upperposition of the system the fluid 6b in the container freely enters intothe tube 18, through openings 62 in the wall thereof, and, therefore,fills the space between the two piston discs, the fluid being retainedabove the lower disc as by the sealing action of the O-ring.

Delivery of the fluid is effected by a downward movement of the pistonsystem by pressure on knob 46 with a finger, thumb, or the heel of thehand. During this downward movement the lower disc 26 retains its fixeddistance from upper disc '24, by the distending action of the spring 34,the strength of which is sufficient to overcome any friction of theO-ring with the wall of the tube, and also to overcome any inertialeifects due to an unduly rapid actuation of the plunger. Thus, themetered amount of fluid, determined by the spacing of the discs, ismaintained, and after the upper disc passes below the ports 62, themetered portion is trapped. When the lower disc reaches the bottom 64 oftube 13, its movement is interrupted, but the shank 3b of the piston rodcontinues to descend, sliding through the lower disc and into a centralwell 66 opening through bottom 64, and thus defin ng a shoulder. At thisstage, the inner end of faucet 29 is exposed above disc 26, and thefluid between the discs flows through and out of the faucet, under boththe action of gravity and the downward pressure of the upper disc, thefinal positions of the parts being indicated in broken lines, in FIGURE3. As shown, there is still a degree of spacing between the discs in theposition of full exhaust, occasioned by the presence of the spring 30,as fully compressed, and in predetermining the metering, this is takenaccount of. However, it will be understood that suitable clearance maybe provided in the discs for receiving the compressed spring so that thediscs may be brought into contact, if this should be deemed necessary ordesirable. In either case, when the downward movement of the pistonsystem has been ar- 7 ing a plastic container of generallyfrusto-conical form,

having a-bottom with a central, depending shank, a vacuum cup carried bysaid shank, a threadedly attached top cover having a central opening, anupright tube in said container, above said shank, and a lateral,discharge conduit communicating with the interior of said tube, nearsaid bottom, said tube having lateral Ports near its upper end, andsaidshank having a central well communicating with the interior of saidtube, and defining a shoulder with the bottom thereof, a pistonsystemslidable in said tube, and comprising a push rod having a lower endadapted to be received in said well, a first,

coaxial disc fixed near said lowerend, and a second, coaxial discslidably carried on said rod between said first disc and said lower end,stop'means defining an outer limit of movement ofsaid second disc onsaid rod, spring means surounding said rod between said discs, andurging said second disc against said stop means, a bearing sleevecarried axiallyl of said container, above said tube and slidablyreceiving said rod, said rod also slidably received' in said centralopening in said top cover, and having an end knob externally of said topcover, a top closure'on said tube, a collar carried by said rod, acompression spring surrounding said rod, and acting between said tubeclosure and said collar, and stop means on said rod,adapted to contactsaid bearing sleeve, to limit upward movement of said rod at a positionwith said first disc above said ports, and said second disc below saidports,

2. A metering, dispensing devicefor fluids, comprising a containerhaving a top closure cap with a central opening, a central, bearingsleeve near said cap, and a bottom with a central, depending shankmounting a vacuum cup, an upright tube in said container, above saidshank, said shank having a central well communicating with the interiorof said tube, and defining a marginal tube, and comprising a firstcoaxial disc fixed in spaced relation to said lower end, and a second,coaxial disc slidably carried between said first disc and said lowerend, stop means defining an' outer limit of movement of said second discon said rod, spring means surrounding said rod between said discs, andurging said second disc againstsaid stop means, atop closure on saidtube, a collar carried by said rod, a' compression spring surroundingsaid rod, and acting between said tube closure and said collar, and stopinea ns on said rod, adapted to contact said bearing sleeve, to limitupward movement of said rod at a position with said first disc abovesaid ports, and said second disc below said ports.

3. A metering, dispensing device for fluids, comprising a containerhaving a top closure cap with a central open- I ing, and a bottom witha'central, depending shank mounting a vacuum cup, an upright tubein saidcontainer,

above said shank, said shank having a central well coin.-

municating with the interior of said tube, and defining a marginal,shoulderat the bottom thereof, 'a lateral discharge conduit,communicating with the interior of said tube near the bottom thereof,said tube having lateral ports near its upper end, a piston systemcomprising a push rod slidably mounted in the opening in said cap, andhavinga lower end adapted to be received in said Well, and a pair ofdiscs slidable in said tube, and comprising a first coaxial disc fixedin spaced relation to said lower end, and a second, coaxial discslidably carried between said first disc and said lower end, stop meansdefining an outer limit of movement of said second disc on said rod,spring means surrounding said rod between said discs, and urging saidsecond. disc against said stop means, a top closure on said tube, acollar carried by said rod, a compression spring surrounding said rod,and acting between said tube closure and said collar, and stop meansbetween said rod and said container, adapted to limit upward movement ofsaid rod at a position with said first disc above said ports, and saidsecond disc below said ports.

4. A metering, dispensing device for fluidscomprising a container havinga top closure cap with a central 7 opening, and a bottom having anupright tube and a central well communicating with the interior of saidtube, and defining a marginal shoulder at the bottom thereof, a lateraldischarge conduit, communicating with the interior of said tube near thebottom thereof, said tube.

having lateral ports near its upper end, a piston system comprising apush rod slidably mounted in the opening in said cap and having a lowerend adapted to be received in said well, and a pair of discs slidable insaid tube, and comprising a first coaxial disc fixed in spaced relationto said-lower end, and a second, coaxial disc 7 slidably carried betweensaid first disc and said lower end, stop means defining an outer limitof movement of said second disc on said rod, spring means surroundingsaid rod'betwe'en said discs, andurging said second disc against saidstop means, a topclosure on said tube, a collar carried by said rod, acompression spring surrounding said rod, and acting between said tubeclosure and said collar, and stop means between said rod and saidcontainer adapted to limit upward movement of said rod at a positionwith, said first disc above said ports, and said second disc below saidports.

, 5. A metering, dispensing device for fluids, comprising a containerhaving a top closure cap with a central opening, and a bottomhaving anupright tube and a central well communicating with the interior of saidtube, and defining a marginal shoulder-at the bottom thereof, a lateraldischarge conduit, communicating with the interior of said tube near thebottom thereof, said tube having lateral ports near its upper end, apiston system com- 7 means defining an outer limit of movement of saidsecond disc on said rod, spring means surrounding said rod between saiddiscs, and' urging said second disc against said stopmeans, a collarcarried by said rod, a compression spring surrounding said rod, andacting between said tube and saidvcollar, and stop means between saidrod and said container adapted to limit upward movem nt of said rod ataposition with said first disc above said p,orts,'and said second disc,below saidports.

,6. A metering, dispensing device forfiuids comprising a containerhaving a bottom with an upright tube and a,- central well communicatingwith the interior of said tube, f

comprising a push rod, having a lower end adapted to be received in saidwell, and a pair of discs slidable in said tube, and comprising a firstcoaxial disc fixed in.

spaced relation to said lower end, and a second, coaxial disc slidablycarried between said first disc and said lower end, stop means definingan outer limit of movement of said second disc on said rod, spring meanssurrounding said rod between said discs, and urging said second discagainst stop means, a collar carried by said rod, a compression springsurrounding said rod, and acting between said tube and said collar, andstop means between said rod and said container adapted to limit upwardmovement of said rod at a position with said first disc above saidports, and said second disc below said ports,

7. A metering, dispensing device for fluids, comprising a containerhaving a bottom with an upright tube and a central well communicatingwith-the interior of said tube, and defining a marginal shoulder at thebottom thereof, a lateral discharge conduit, communicating with theinterior of said tube near the bottom thereof, said tube having lateralports near its upper end, a piston system comprising a push rod having alower end adapted to be received in said well, and a pair of discsslidable in said tube, and comprising a first coaxial disc fixed inspaced relation to said lower end, and a second,-

coaxial disc slidably carried between said first disc and said lowerend, stop means defining an outer limit of movement of said second discon said rod, spring means surrounding said rod between said discs, andurging said second disc against said stop means, spring means urgingsaid pistons upwardly in said tube, and stop means between said rod andsaid container adapted to limit upward movement of said rod at aposition with said first disc above said ports, and said second discbelow said ports;

References @ited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

7. A METERING, DISPENSING DEVICE FOR FLUIDS, COMPRISING A CONTAINERHAVING A BOTTOM WITH AN UPRIGHT TUBE AND A CENTRAL WELL COMMUNICATINGWITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID TUBE, AND DEFINING A MARGINAL SHOULDER AT THEBOTTOM THEREOF, A LATERAL DISCHARGE CONDUIT, COMMUNICATING WITH THEINTERIOR OF SAID TUBE NEAR THE BOTTOM THEREOF, SAID TUBE HAVING LATERALPORTS NEAR ITS UPPER END, A PISTON SYSTEM COMPRISING A PUSH ROD HAVING ALOWER END ADAPTED TO BE RECEIVED IN SAID WELL, AND A PAIR OF DISCSSLIDABLE IN SAID TUBE, AND COMPRISING A FIRST COAXIAL DISC FIXED INSPACED RELATION TO SAID LOWER END, AND A SECOND, COAXIAL DISC SLIDABLYCARRIED BETWEEN SAID FIRST DISC AND SAID LOWER END, STOP MEANS DEFININGAN OUTER LIMIT OF MOVEMENT OF SAID SECOND DISC ON SAID ROD, SPRING MEANSSURROUNDING SAID ROD BETWEEN SAID DISCS, AND URGING SAID SECOND DISCAGAINST SAID STOP MEANS, SPRING MEANS URGING SAID PISTONS UPWARDLY INSAID TUBE, AND STOP MEANS BETWEEN SAID ROD AND SAID CONTAINER ADAPTED TOLIMIT UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID ROD AT A POSITION WITH SAID FIRST DISCABOVE SAID PORTS, AND SAID SECOND DISC BELOW SAID PORTS.